SCREENWRITERS BOOK STORE


BOOKS FOR NEW SCREENWRITERS

Just starting out? Wondering which screenwriting books to buy? Here are *my* suggestions:

Writing Screenplays That Sell

WRITING SCREENPLAYS THAT SELL: The Complete, Step-By-Step Guide for Writing and Selling to the movies, from story concept to development deal.
by Michael Hauge

Skip Syd Field and Robert McKee and grab Hauge's book! Packed with information, it's one-stop-shopping for new screenwriters. You get all of the basics on structure, format, characters, motivations and story. Easy to read, easy to understand, lots of great examples. Great stuff on theme and character arc, too. If you're using a word processing program like Word or WordPerfect - this book has all of the margin measurements. When new writers ask me what book to get, this is what I recommend.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Screenwriter's Bible

THE SCREENWRITER'S BIBLE: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script.
by David Trottier

Got format questions? This book provides all of the answers. Lots of great examples so that you can *see* what your script is supposed to look like. This is one of the best books for beginners because it's filled with practical information. More up-to-date than the Cole-Hage book.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Making A Good Script Great

MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT
by Linda Seger

Don't let the title fool you - this isn't a book for advanced screenwriters, it's for those just starting out. Lots of great information on structure, storytelling, and characters. Some great stuff on Act Two, characters in conflict, and making your characters come alive on the page. This is a good book to read before rewriting your first few scripts.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Script Magazine Subscription

SCR(I)PT MAGAZINE subscription

Okay, I'm the West Coast Editor, so I'm biased - but this is the best screenwriting magazine out there. Other magazines have articles *about* screenwriters, Scr(i)pt has articles *by* screenwriters. You'll find articles written by Brain Helgeland (Oscar winner for LA CONFIDENTIAL), Mike Rich (THE ROOKIE), Oscar winner Jim Sheridan (IN AMERICA) and several other pro screenwriters in THE LAST SAMURAI issue. Scr(i)pt also focuses on the actual writing rather than the deal making - this is a "how to" magazine, with Helegand's article focusing on how to find the right place to start your story and Frank Hannah's article on five methods to tap into the collective consciousness of the audience (using examples from his film THE COOLER). Real nuts-and-bolts stuff. Oh, and I have at least one article in every issue.
SUBSCRIBE!


Hollywood Screenwriter Software

HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER screenwriting software

Imagine a screenwriting program for $35 - impossible? This bare-bones program from the company that makes Movie Magic is great for writers who are just starting out. Choose from Screenplay, Drama, Sitcom, or Stage Play formatting. No reason to spend $300 on software when you're just starting out when you can use this program and end up with a finished product that looks and reads like the real thing.
BUY THE SOFTWARE!


dummies

SCREENWRITING FOR DUMMIES by John Logan

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


tools

THE TOOLS OF SCREENWRITING:
A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay
by David Howard

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Epstein

CRAFTY SCREENWRITING
Writing Movies That Get Made
by Alex Epstein

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Feild

THE SCREENWRITER'S PROBLEM SOLVER:
How to Recognize, Identify, and Define Screenwriting Problems
by Syd Field

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Feild

SCREENPLAY:
The Foundations of Screenwriting; A step-by-step guide from concept to finished script
by Syd Field

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Aaronson

SCREENWRITING UPDATED:
New (and Conventional) Ways of Writing for the Screen
by Linda Aronson

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


McKee

STORY:
Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting
by Robert McKee

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Hunter

LEW HUNTER'S SCREENWRITING 434:
The Industry's Premier Teacher Reveals the Secrets of the Successful Screenplay
by Lew Hunter

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Skip

COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO SCREENWRITING
(The Complete Idiot's Guide)
by Skip Press

I know Skip. He can be difficult at times, but he's also a pretty good guy. I haven't read this book, but I've read other stuff he's written and he gives clear, easy to understand information. A friend of mine, a WGA writer who has written the sequel to a big flick you may have seen, swears by this book - so it's probably pretty good.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Henson

SCREENWRITING:
Step-By-Step
by Wendy J. Henson

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Deemer

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
An Introduction to Screenwriting
by Charles Deemer

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed.
BUY THIS BOOK!


Biskin

DOWN AND DIRTY PICTURES
Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film
by Peter Biskind

Down and Dirty Pictures chronicles the rise of independent filmmakers and of the twin engines -- Sundance and Miramax -- that have powered them. As he did in his acclaimed Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, Peter Biskind profiles the people who took the independent movement from obscurity to the Oscars, most notably Sundance founder Robert Redford and Harvey Weinstein, who with his brother, Bob, made Miramax an indie powerhouse. Candid, mesmerizing, and penetrating, Down and Dirty Pictures is a must-read for anyone interested in the film world and where it's headed. BUY THIS BOOK!


You should also read a big stack of screenplays. You can download screenplays for free from Drew's Script-O-Rama, but you should also read some scripts on paper to see how everything is set up on the page. You can buy scripts at...

PLANET MEGAMALL

- Where they have a great selection of movie and TV scripts. Everything from classic films to scripts for films currently in theaters. These are photocopies of the actual scripts - exactly what the writers wrote and exactly how they wrote them.


OTHER BOOKS AND VIDEOS - SEARCH HERE!

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copyright 2008 by William C. Martell

BOOKLETS & PRODUCTS

bluebook FIRST STRIKE BLUE BOOKS
Each Blue Book is 48 pages and focuses on a different aspect of screenwriting. Dialogue. Visual Storytelling. Your First Ten Pages. Act 2 Booster. Protagonists. Great Endings.
Seventeen Blue Books now available!

THE SECRETS OF ACTION SCREENWRITING OUT OF PRINT!

MESSAGE BOARDS

A great way to avoid writing!
MESSAGE BOARDS
Ask questions, discuss screenplays and films, or play one of our cool new interactive games. It's fun! Producers can post Scripts Wanted ads free! Ask a screenwriting question!

SCRIPT SECRET SEMINARS

Like the website? Take the class!
SCRIPT SECRETS SEMINAR
New class: CHARACTER FIRST!

Bill's Big 2 day London class comes to:
* Hong Kong! - March 8 & 9, 2008!
Hundreds of techniques to improve your writing, focusing on theme, character, creativity, ideas, pacing... more!

MY OTHER SITES

B MOVIE WORLD
Cult Films, Exploitation, Bikers & Women In Prison, Monster Movies.

FIRST STRIKE PRODUCTIONS
Producing my own scripts, investment possibilities, pipe dreams.

NAKED SCREENWRITING CDs

Naked Class NEW! The NAKED SCREENWRITING CLASS ON CD! The 2001 London Class on 8 CDs! Recorded *live* the morning after the Raindance Film Festival wrapped. The two day class on 8CDs, plus a workbook, plus a bonus CD with 300 screenplay PDFs.
The 2 Day Class on CD!

SCRIPT LIBRARY

Thriller and Action Script Headquarters!
THE SCRIPT LIBRARY
Ever wonder what the scene looks like on the page? Read the script and find out!

TRAILER PARK
The latest coming attractions from films new and old!

SCREENWRITING LINKS

One stop shopping for screenwriting resources!
SCREENWRITING LINKS
From the WGA to Copyright to other great sites like WordPlay - If it's on the web, we'll take you there! Plus research links! Need a Space Shuttle schematic?

BOOKSTORE

Every screenwriting book in the world!
SCREENWRITER'S BOOKSTORE
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SCRIPT SECRETS STORE

Script Secret Store SCRIPT SECRETS STORE From Typing Monkey coffee cups to messenger bags to T shirts - everything a screenwriter needs to look sharp while working on that Oscar nomination! Get your Script Secrets Coffee Cup today!

BILL'S CORNER

My nineteen produced films, interviews with me in magazines, several sample scripts, my available scripts list... And MORE!
...............................BILL'S CORNER


Available Scripts

CLASSES ON CD

Class CDs CLASSES ON CD! Take a class on CD! GUERRILLA MARKETING - NO AGENT? NO PROBLEM! and WRITING THRILLERS (2 CDs). Full length classes on CD. Now Available: IDEAS & CREATIVITY, WRITING HORROR, WRITING INDIE FILMS, more!
Take classes on CD!

LECTURE SCHEDULE

Where can I catch Bill Martell in person?
LECTURES & EVENTS
For some reason film festivals keep inviting me to lecture on screenwriting. Dates and locations of where I'll be, plus a calendar of film festivals and writers conferences.
SCRIPT SECRETS SEMINARS - Like the website? Take the two day class!